Patheos.com is inviting scholars and writers from a different religious tradition each week to discuss the Future of Religion this summer.

Patrick Aleph, executive director of PunkTorah, a nonprofit dedicated to independent Jewish spirituality and culture, discusses "three trends in the Jewish family that aren't going away any time soon: secular humanism (a move away from theistic Judaism), interfaith marriage, and cultural homogeny." He comments that "each of these themes will move Judaism in new, amazing directions."

Two writers emphasize the impact of women at the vanguard of Judaism today. Anita Diamant, author of the best seller "The Red Tent," discusses how Jewish law has recently embraced women in leadership roles and continues to expand such opportunities. Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez, co-author of the Redefining Rebbetzin blog, predicts, "Whatever you choose to call women who are well educated and take on leadership roles -- Rabbi, Rabba, Yoetzet Halacha, Jewish Educator, Rebbetzin, or 'just' an involved lay leader -- there will be more of them in the years to come."

Rabbi Bahir Davis, spiritual leader of Rocky Mountain Hai based in Lafayette, Colo., compares religious traditions to hiking along a mountain path. He notes that those who move along will last through the tests of time. Davis states, "movements need to move and they need to contribute to the whole. Any movement that can hold to its fluidity no matter how thick the flow, any movement that sees itself as part of something bigger ... that movement will have legs."

Matthue Roth, associate editor at MyJewishLearning.com, shares humorous reflections on observing traditional Jewish laws in the context of technological innovation. After some banter on the confusion of information overload, he adds more seriously, "imagine the possibilities ... that you could not only tell what foods are safe to buy, but be able to figure out where a ruling came from, read the original text, find out exactly why different rulings exist and even share your opinion instantly — and you're one step closer to having a religion that's of the people, by the people."

Other contributors to the Future of Judaism segment include Shalom Goldman, Reb Zalman, Jonathan Sarna, Mitchell Silver, Ezra Schenken, Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz and more.

Pam Stout coordinates Faith and Home & Garden coverage for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at pamstout@annarbor.com.